Politics

Route 7 BLM Protests Continue Tuesdays

A group of around ten protestors has stood in silent protest along Leesburg Pike every week since June.

On Aug. 25, for the twelfth Tuesday in a row, a handful of protestors stood in silence next to Leesburg Pike.

Automated Justice?

Lawmakers to consider automatic expungements for misdemeanors.

Virginia is one of 10 states that offers almost no way for people convicted of misdemeanors to expunge their records, creating roadblocks for people trying to get a job or rent an apartment. Even when a jury finds defendants in Virginia not guilty or when prosecutors dropped charges, allegations remain on records as a stain that can cause problems for years to come. That’s why lawmakers are about to consider a proposal from the Virginia Crime Commission on automatic expungement, which is expected to be released early next week.

March Saturday in Mount Vernon

Northern Virginia Community and Friends United march for justice, peace, equality and education and Black Lives Matter, Saturday, Aug. 22.

For (Some) Women, Right to Vote Came 100 Years Ago

City marks centennial of 19th amendment

Harry Burn was a staunch anti-suffragist.

Governor Northam Signs Protection Bills For Dogs

Virtual ceremony held

In a signing ceremony, held virtually, and streamed from his State Capitol office, Governor Ralph Northam officially signed stronger protections for tethered dogs into law on Aug. 17.

Reforming the Police

Lawmakers consider sweeping set of proposals to change policing in Virginia.

Only a few hours into a special session of the General Assembly earlier this week, members of a Senate panel passed a sweeping bill on policing reform that does everything from banning no-knock warrants and limiting chokeholds to creating use-of-force standards and requiring de-escalation training.

Celebrating Women’s Right to Vote

This week offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate history and learn something new.

Twelve Candidates Run in Town of Herndon Election

Candidates Discuss Their Priorities

As of Aug. 10, 2020, twelve candidates qualified to run in the Nov. 3, Fairfax County, Town of Herndon, General Election for Member Town Council – Herndon, and Mayor – Herndon, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

Herndon Harbor House Seniors Embrace the New Norm

Masked, socially distanced and loving the life they make.

Seniors at Herndon Harbor House in the Town of Herndon pursue active lifestyles even though they have quarantined since March, according to resident Janice Watson.

Night Court

Lawmakers to consider eliminating no-knock warrants, new hurdles for nighttime search warrants.

Lawmakers in Virginia are about to consider banning no-knock warrants and creating a new requirement that judges — not magistrates — sign off on search warrants executed at night.

Republican Women Honor the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment Ratification

The Commonwealth Republican Women’s Club (CRWC) met briefly – with masks and social distancing – to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote in August of 1920.

Fairfax County Democratic Committee Calls Virtual Unassembled Caucus

Party partisan endorsements in local nonpartisan election.

The issue of partisan party endorsements in a nonpartisan election appears to be one of the pending topics for discussion by candidates in the November 3 Town Council General Election in Herndon this fall.

Progressive Prosecutors Lobby for Justice

Commonwealth’s Attorneys from Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax join forces to press for reform.

As lawmakers prepare to return to Richmond for a special session on criminal justice reform, this group of likeminded prosecutors known as the Progressive Prosecutors for Justice will be pushing for a package of criminal-justice reform bills that does not have the backing of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys.

Mount Vernon Unitarian Church Dedicates ‘Black Lives Matter’ Signs

About 25 members of Mount Vernon Unitarian Church (MVUC) — masked and socially distanced — joined Pastor Kate Walker the morning of July 7 to dedicate three Black Lives Matter signs, one at the drive to the church on Windmill Lane and two on Fort Hunt Road under the directional signs to the church.

‘Cancel Our Rent’ in Alexandria

Southern Towers residents protest eviction hearings.

Residents of Southern Towers apartments gathered July 15 at the Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Old Town to protest for the cancellation of rent payments and demand an extension to a statewide moratorium on evictions, which expired last month.

The Connection